Cover Story
What it’s like to actually eat the food in Oakland County Jail
As they do every evening, hundreds of fruit flies perched on the dank tiled walls in the Oakland County Jail’s showers look on as I step in to prepare dinner. The roughly 6-by-4-foot enclosure is dimly lit by yellow, fluorescent light. The mildew is staggering. Aside from serving as a fruit fly sanctuary, the shower…
Looking at Poletown, three decades later
These days, when politically connected developers decide they want to demolish an inconvenient neighborhood so they can build a sprawling, single-purpose development, they have to haggle. They have to spend years assembling parcels of land. They have to woo politicians in hopes of getting government to cede tax-reverted land. They have to pay the holdouts…
CANCELED: That 1,000-foot water slide is (not) coming to Flint on July 25
Update: The Slide the City event scheduled to take place in Flint next weekend has been canceled due to a low number of registrants. “I got an email, not even a phone call,” Gerard Burnash, an executive of the Flint Downtown Development Authority told MLive earlier this week. He told them: “I’m almost glad they canceled.…
Thee Oh Sees announce gig at PJ’s Lager House on Sept. 5
Touring with the entirely new band who recorded their celebrated new record Mutilator Defeated At Last, John Dwyer’s psychedelic pop garage trance act Thee Oh Sees just announced new tour dates, including a show at PJ’s on Saturday, Sept. 5.
Wolf Eyes to offer entire catalog on Bandcamp for first time, offer deals
Trip metal pioneers and masters of Michigan noise, Wolf Eyes, who formed 18 years ago, have begun to put their entire, super extensive collection of recordings online.
Spend summer inside with these 8-bit and 16-bit sagas
Stay pale and cool indoors this summer with these circa-1990 classics.
Show review: Juan Wauters at PJ’s Lager House, July 13
Monday’s show was the second to last in his five-week tour promoting his new album, ‘Who Me?’
Meeting on Historic Fort Wayne set for tonight
If you have an interest in the direction of Detroit’s Historic Fort Wayne, a public hearing set for this evening should be on your radar. The Detroit News reports a meeting is scheduled from 6-8 p.m. at the Fort Wayne Visitor Center, located at 6325 W. Jefferson Avenue in Detroit, to discuss a potential redevelopment…
Shepard Fairey turns himself in to Detroit authorities
Fairey’s bond is set at $75,000 for creating $9,000 worth of damage on Detroit properties.
Flint family finds ‘hazardous waste’ levels of lead in its tap water
Flint resident LeeAnne Walters has a child with lead poisoning, and found that her tap water is classified by the EPA as “hazardous waste.”
New Protomartyr album due Oct. 9; here is a link to a brand new song from it
This is exciting! One of the most anticipated Detroit albums by anyone — up there with Tunde and Mountains and Rainbows! We have the tracklisting and this song, just for you.
‘Robocop’ score reissued, streaming now
We can’t resist … we’d buy that for a dollar. Actually, the double-LP release will set you back $36.98.
Here’s the new trailer for #adetroitfilm
Last year, we wrote about Detroit skateboarder turned filmmaker Jordan Garland who’s on a mission to connect locals and present to the world a version of Detroit from the inside out through his short film #adetroitfilm. Today, Garland and his crew are officially releasing their new trailer on Channel 4 Live in the D at 11…
Today is National French Fry Day – get your Detroit fry fix now
What’s your favorite spot for fries in Detroit?
MDOT hosting meeting on I-94 widening in Detroit
The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) will host an open house Tuesday from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on a proposed project to widen I-94 in Detroit between Connor Avenue and I-96, along with utility and bridge replacements in the 6.7-mile stretch. The project has drawn the ire of transit activists opposed to widening I-94’s footprint any further.…
Lenny Kravitz to play Meadow Brook Aug. 27; tickets on sale this Fri. AM
It was announced today that Lenny Kravitz will play Meadow Brook on Thursday, Aug. 27. Tickets will be available over at Livenation.com this Friday, starting at 10 a.m.
Show review: Fall Out Boy and Wiz Khalifa’s Boys of Zummer Tour defies genre barriers
The Boys of Zummer Tour starring Fall Out Boy and Wiz Khalifa with special guests Hoodie Allen and MAX brought out the pop, rock, and hip-hop crowds, and everyone in between.
Try this Pig & Whiskey-inspired BBQ jalapeno popper dip and sandwich spread recipe
Can’t make it to the Pig & Whiskey
ICYMI: New video for the Mexican Knives’ excellent “Beach Song”
Just in time for you to wish you were at the beach at this very second (and, if you are at the beach now,, get off the Internet, silly!), we have a fun video directed by Erin Barry at Foliage Films for “Beach Song,” by one of Detroit’s young finest, the Mexican Knives.
John Oliver takes swipe at financing arrangement for new Detroit Red Wings arena
It’s become a rally cry for many on the right and left to curb the proliferation of fancy stadiums over the last two decades thanks to generous subsidies. That continued over the weekend in a nearly-20 minute segment delivered by HBO funnyman John Oliver on stadium financing during this week’s episode of Last Week Tonight…
Happy birthday, Albert Ayler
Today is this fabulous artist’s birthday; he would have been 79 if he’d lived. So let’s celebrate his marvelous music by listening to it all day, and all night.
State to end contract for prison food services with Aramark
Just two weeks after a poll found most Michigan residents wanted Republican Gov. Rick Snyder to end a contract for prison food services with Aramark Correctional Services, and only days after a MT cover story highlighted some of the unpleasant circumstances of prison food dished out by the company in Oakland County jails, the state has…
‘New York Times’ continues to perpetuate the myth that Detroit is an awesome place for artists
Artists are flocking to Detroit the same way that packs of 50,000 stray dogs aren’t roaming the city’s streets.
Janet Jackson adds Detroit date to Unbreakable World Tour
The initial itinerary skipped out on Detroit.
Hamtramck’s Prude Boys release cool new track for free
On Friday, Hamtramck’s self-described “fuzz-pop trio trio” the Prude Boys released a track for free from their forthcoming EP, Family Style Glamour. It’s the single version of “In the Alley.” They play next at BFF Fest, held at MOCAD on July 25.
Show review: George Clinton at Chene Park July 10
“I’ve been doing this thing for a long time, and I don’t think there is anything I’d want to do other than music,” he said. “Nothing better than doing [concerts] for folks who’ve been listening to me from the start.”
Watch: Crew implodes Detroit’s ‘Zombieland’ building for new Red Wings arena
The hotel, abandoned in 2003, was demolished to make way for the new Red Wings arena project.
Get Ready, 50 cent Coneys for National Coney’s Island’s 50th Anniversary
Roseville-based National Coney Island will kick off its 50th anniversary by offering 50 cent Coneys at its locations, beginning at 7 a.m. Tuesday. The near-free-for-all will last one day only, but customers can also buy commemorative glasses beginning July 17 for $3.99. The company says these promotions will help launch a months-long series of special…
Local artists receive awards in honor of the late Gilda Snowden
The Kresge Foundation has set up an award in honor of the late Gilda Snowden, the champion of local art and mentor for young artists who died late last year. On Thursday, the foundation announced the winners of the inaugural award, who each get $5,000 in unrestricted cash. The winners were experimental poet Maia Asshaq (read…
Rand Paul lights tax code on fire to commemorate Michigan campaign stop
Libertarian Rand Paul, who’s embarking on a 2016 presidential bid, will be in Michigan to campaign on Friday. He’s marked the occasion with quite a photo. “Join me in Michigan where I’ll be talking about destroying the tax code,” the Republican wrote on his Instagram account Friday under a photo where he’s standing over a wheelbarrow…
Lessenberry: And as for the Stars and Bars …
Confederate flags don’t kill people: guns kill people.
Rattlesnake Club unveils an informal summer menu
You might actually be able to afford to eat at the Rattlesnake Club now.
Show preview: George Clinton at Chene Park tonight; here are 13 clips
At 8 p.m. tonight, one of the chief architects of modern funk, George Clinton, will take the stage at Chene Park. We understand that tickets are still available. Here are 13 live performance, studio recording, and interview clips to get you in the mood. Related Stories
Hamtramck’s Bon Bon Bon hits Ann Arbor with a pop-up next week: UPDATED
Stop in for a bon time during your next visit to Ann Arbor.
Detroit has fewest uniformed officers on duty since Prohibition
Given some recent incidents of violence in Detroit as of late, this is some disheartening news: the Detroit Police Department has the fewest number of uniformed officers on duty since the 1920s, according to a report in The Detroit News. The number of officers has depleted by nearly 40 percent in just the last three…
Fellow Barber in Midtown closes after five months
Fellow Barber in Midtown has closed its doors five months after opening — and just weeks after Shinola and Jack White announced a joint purchase of the building that housed the shop. A sign on the shop’s door Wednesday read the closure was effective immediately Thursday, according to the Detroit Free Press. Business appeared to…
Show review: Morrissey at The Masonic, July 8
Moz actually played Detroit!
What’s for Lunch: Pocket dining at Cilantro Bistro on Grand River
Walk down Grand River toward Harmonie Park, just past Broadway, and you might just miss the strip of pocket eateries that are tucked into itsy, bitsy storefronts, with little more advertising than a sandwich board out front. Among those is the months-old Cilantro Bistro, a husband and wife set up that specializes in healthful lunchtime…
Show review: The Rolling Stones at Comerica Park Wed., July 8
From the very first song (“Jumpin’ Jack Flash”) Jagger was strutting like he’s been his whole life, pacing back and forth across the entirety of stage and dancing in that funny way he does where he just shakes his legs and spins.
Show preview: Tribute to Marcus Belgrave at Concert of Colors this Sat., July 11 (in place of King Sunny Ade’s show)
Word arrives that, in the wake of King sunny Ade’s performance being canceled due to a visa snafu, legendary trumpeter Marcus Belgrave will also be the subject of a tribute. It looks like this will be one heck of a show, too. The press release follows.
DIA offers transportation for Oakland County residents, extends ‘Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo in Detroit’ hours
It’s part of the museum’s “County Days” promotion.
Check out the commercial for Insane Clown Posse’s new album, out July 31
These guys are pretty good at marketing. This is a press release: INSANE CLOWN POSSE UNLEASHES THE SECOND PART OF THE MARVELOUS MISSING LINK SAGA! THE MARVELOUS MISSING LINK (FOUND) ARRIVES EVERYWHERE JULY 31. Check Out The Commercial For ICP’s New Album Once, the Juggalos were LOST…. but now, in the exciting conclusion of the…
Data breach at Detroit Zoo gift shop under investigation
Officials with the Detroit Zoo said Wednesday that an investigation is underway to pinpoint the cause of a security breach at the zoo’s gift shop. The breach at the zoo includes eight others across the US, officials said in a press release Wednesday. Customers’s credit and debit card numbers, names, expiration dates, and three-digit CVV…
Bloomfield Township politics gone wild: Treasurer accuses supervisor of kidnapping his daughter
It may be hard to imagine, but the political dynamics in Bloomfield Township are something to behold, if dysfunctional governance is your kind of thing. The township’s treasurer and supervisor beef constantly. (For some background, start here.) The rift continued this week, as treasurer Dan Devine has accused supervisor Leo Savoie of kidnapping his daughter,…
First-ever Slurpee Queen to be crowned this afternoon in Taylor
The first-ever Slurpee Queen will be crowned this afternoon.
Townhouse Detroit opens later this month: Freep
Get ready for a new dining destination unlike any other in downtown Detroit.
Detroit’s Redford Theatre to screen original ‘Jurassic Park’ this weekend
Go back in time … to the ’90s.
28,000 pounds of nuts stolen in Shelby Township
Nearly 30,000 pounds of package nuts were swiped from a truck and trailer in Shelby Township last week and local police are asking for the public’s help in recovering the cargo and identifying a suspect. The stolen goods are worth an estimated $128,000. To help draw attention to the theft, which we reckon will go…
Show review: ‘Jack N’ For Beats’ national freestyle competition at Bob’s Classic Kicks
The unexpectedly large turnout transformed the indoor festivities into a high-energy extension of the mobile studio auditions, as both male and female contestants took to the mic and co-organizer Jeff Mimms rallied the crowd for support and tried, in vain, to curb the profanity.
‘Amy’ chronicles the rise and fall of a troubled star
Amy – B In the documentary film Truth or Dare, Madonna and actor Warren Beatty famously get into a bit of a spat, and Beatty sarcastically remarks that Madonna doesn’t want to live off-camera. “Why do anything off-camera?” he asks. “What would be the point of that?” While his indictment of Madonna’s quest for fame…
Politics and Prejudices: Marriage and crazy people
Some time ago I happened to read a marvelous piece in New York magazine on why Hillary Clinton is likely to be our next president. Yes, she is about as exciting as an annual report. True, Goldman Sachs supposedly said they could live with either Jeb Bush or Hillary Clinton as president, and she would…
Savage Love: Disunion
Q: I entered into a civil union with another woman in Vermont in 2000. My ex and I were together until 2003, when we decided to go our separate ways. It is now 2015, and my new partner (who happens to be male) and I are expecting a baby and talking about getting married. We…
Raise the Bar: CJ Barrymore’s is more than a beer-slinging arcade
CJ Barrymore’s isn’t the typical sort of watering hole that you’ll find profiled in Raise the Bar. Generally we cover dives, longstanding sports bars, and even, occasionally, something a little higher end. CJ Barrymore’s doesn’t quite fit into any of those categories. Billed as a “family entertainment center,” manager John Myers says there is something…
Robert Sestok unveils the enormous City Sculpture Park
There are 29 welded steel sculptures, most around 8 feet tall. You don’t notice at first that they’re in a perfect grid, spread throughout the recently mowed corner lot on Alexandrine Street at Lodge Service Drive, close to Cass Corridor and adjacent to the freeway, which provides constant ambient sound. These are playful, incredible works.…
Side Dish: Six things you need to know about dining in metro Detroit this week
Feast and rally — Check out some of metro Detroit’s most delicious mobile eateries as several gourmet food trucks come together for a rally on July 8 to provide you with the best they have to offer at the Royal Oak Farmers Market. This is sure to be an exciting, busy event, perhaps filled with…
Drink Up
Bacardi Superior Before 1862, the year Don Facundo reinvented rum, the spirit was known for being harsh, crude, and unrefined. It’s what pirates drink, after all. It took Facundo 10 years to perfect the new kind of rum that Bacardi would swiftly become known for creating. Well over a century later Bacardi is still known…
Horoscopes (July 8 – 14)
ARIES (March 21-April 20): Drumming your fingers on the table won’t get this to happen any sooner. It’s hilarious the way you get when it’s your turn to wait. So what if you want this more than anything? There is more to it than meets the eye. These issues go back to day one. Stop…
Ask a Juggalo: Faygo mixed drinks and Juggalo Day
Q: Can you recommend any particularly delicious mixed drinks to make with Faygo? A: Absofuckinglutely. Rock & Rye and Hennessey is absolutely delicious. Cotton Candy and plain Absolut Vodka — I know there are 50 fucking million flavors these days, but by all means the brand-new cotton candy and Absolut vodka is absolutely amazing. I…
Taste of China offers a world of flavor
An alert reader and self-taught expert on Chinese cooking wrote to me about Taste of China: “They have many items not found elsewhere and not all for the faint of heart.” Even the non-faint might blanch at Stewed Beef Stomach, Spiced Tendon, Pork Intestine with Pork Blood Cake, or Pork Intestine with Special Cooking. But…
Feedback: In defense of Elvis, Satan
A short note about Elvis Last week our intern Adam Theisen wrote a piece for our music section about the mutual fascination between Motown and the Rolling Stones. One reader sent us a note about one “small correction” he wanted to make. A small correction to the “Mutual Fascination” piece about the Rolling Stones by…
Higher Ground: The beginner’s guide to weed in the new frontier
The only thing my father ever told me about marijuana was that I shouldn’t use it because it was illegal. He didn’t say it was bad for me or anything. He pointed out that you can drink alcohol in front of the police and not get arrested. That’s the kind of thing that someone who…
Just out of high school, Blaire Alise scores a music publishing deal
High school graduation is a busy time for anyone, but for Detroit-based Blaire Alise, things are extra hectic. The garage-rock singer-songwriter and guitarist is gearing up to study at New York University in the fall, at the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music. On top of that, she’s still recording and playing live throughout the…
Concert of Colors pays tribute to Detroit’s mysterious and influential disc jockey
Even if you weren’t around in Detroit in the ’80s to experience the Electrifying Mojo — the eccentric radio personality who dominated the city’s airwaves with his popular late night outer space-themed show — firsthand, it’s impossible to escape his orbit. The elusive DJ was notorious for his eclectic playlists, which gleefully crossed genre and…
Your favorite band is now 50 years old
One of the great things about taking on the job of music editor for the Metro Times seven months ago was the knowledge that I was not, under any circumstances, to write about the MC5. They’d been written about so frequently, in such a thorough way, what was left to possibly explore? The MT music…
Neo-hippie HORDE fest returns, for one day in Michigan only
Backstage last summer, at the Michigan stop for 2014’s “Under the Sun” tour (a package event that included Sugar Ray, Smash Mouth, and Uncle Kracker), the members of Blues Traveler reconnected with an old friend of theirs — Adam Schneider, a former manager of the band and now the senior vice president of events at…
Four Show Previews: John’s Carpet House, Swirlies, King Diamond and Joshua Davis
1. Joshua Davis, July 9 The Voice finalist and Traverse City native Joshua Davis plays the Magic Bag, pushing the reissue of his 2005 album Fool Rooster. According to a press release from Davis’ site, the album “was recorded in 2005 at Glenn Brown Productions in Okemos, Mich. Tracked straight on to 2-inch tape with…
